PJTPA asked:


Here is a portion of a quoted interview of Wendell Potter, former head of communications for CIGNA:
“the industry funnels millions of its policyholders’ premiums to big public relations firms that provide talking points to conservative talk show hosts, business groups and politicians. I also described how the PR firms set up front groups, again using your premium dollars and mine, to scare people away from reform.”

The implication is that the insurance industry is scaring us into protesting change that would actually benefit us.

Please go to the link for the whole article. I has some gruesome details about their methodology.

If you disagree with this, please provide a source other than simply repeating the “death panel” and “I don’t want a government bureaucrat between me and my doctor” stuff ad nauseum. I’ve been saying for some time that I don’t want an insurance company between me and my doctor, as it has in the past. This article strongly supports my position.

Here’s the article in its entirety:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/17/potter.health.insurance/index.html
Pollywog- I think you’ve missed the point and probably didn’t read the article- what was it that got you fired up enough to go to a meeting to begin with?
Mobster- I agree- no doubt all lobbying folks are out in force on this- I’m thinking that the insurers have the most to gain and/or lose, though.

Mustagme- you beautifully illustrated one of the main points of this- Fox is the mouthpiece network of the right and their position totally supports that of the insurance industry, hence its listeners tend to be protesters without really knowing why.

Love Canada- BINGO- that’s the irony. They leverage our money against us.
Mike, I thought the interview did a pretty solid job of providing evidence. I have personal experience as well, dealing with my brother’s disability (100% SSI disability for over 30 years). He’s not indigent, but can’t work. He received shock therapy as a child in the early ’60s. My dad was a Purple Heart recipient (USMC 3rd Amphibeous) wounded in combat in WWII in the Pacific who never asked for or received ANY VA benefits.

Medicaid changed their prescription program to “Medicare Part D” which provided that private insurance would pay his prescriptions (AFTER co-pay and monthly premiums).

The private insurer determined that the level of anti-psych medication he was on was “above program level” and my brother ended up in the psych ward, at your expense and mine.

Sorry the evidence I provided was not good enough for you. My combination of personal experience, tangible evidence and COMMON SENSE is good enough for me.

I resent ignorance standing between my brother and his doctors.

Create a video blog…instantly.